California Fresh Start Evaluation

California Fresh Start was a pilot program established by Senate Bill 281 which provided a 10-cent per meal reimbursement to school districts to promote and serve an additional serving of fruits or vegetables at breakfast. The Center evaluated how well the program worked and identified successful implementation strategies and improvements, or additional support necessary to ensure successful implementation. The evaluation determined the extent to which fruit and vegetable servings were increased, types of fruits and vegetables served, how the additional reimbursement was spent, whether the funding was adequate to cover costs, the impact of the program on School Breakfast participation rates and food service operations, and student perceptions of the program.